Protein directed assembly of lipids

Highly ordered ring-like structures are formed via the directed assembly of lipid domains in supported bilayers, using the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. The ability of biological molecules to guide nanoscale assembly suggests potential biomimetic approaches to nanoscale structures.     

Effects of hydrolysis conditions on the morphology,crystallinity, and thermal stability of cellulose nanocrystals extracted from kenaf bast fibers

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were first isolated from kenaf bast fibers and then characterized. The raw fibers were subjected to alkali treatment and bleaching treatment and subsequent hydrolysis with sulfuric acid. The influence of the reaction time on the morphology, crystallinity, and thermal stability of CNC was investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that lignin and hemicellulose were almost entirely removed during the alkali and bleaching treatments. The morphology and dimensions of the fibers and acid-released CNC were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. X-Ray diffraction analysis revealed that the crystallinity first increases upon hydrolysis and then decreases after long durations of hydrolysis. The optimal extraction time was found to be around 40 min during hydrolysis at 45 °C with 65% sulfuric acid. The thermal stability was found to decrease as the hydrolysis time increased. The electrophoretic mobility of the CNC suspensions was measured using the zeta potential, and it ranged from −8.7 to −95.3 mV.     

Simulations of two-phase flow distribution in communicating parallel channels for a PEM fuel cell

Numerical simulations utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with a volume of fluid (VOF) method has been employed to investigate two-phase flow distribution in inter-connected parallel flow channels. The interconnections resemble gas and liquid communications in fuel cell flow fields due to the inherent or artificial structures of gas diffusion layers (GDLs). The simulation results showed that communication between parallel channels could have a great impact on the two-phase flow pattern, gas and water distribution and flow maldistribution. Wide communication channels provide a pathway for gas to short-circuit the liquid, leading to a worsened gas flow distribution. However, when the communication channels are narrow enough, they are helpful for mitigating the flow maldistribution by redistributing the liquid among the parallel flow channels through the communication channels. The simulation results were also verified by comparing the predicted and measured normalized pressure drop and the gas flow ratios at the entrance section of experimental parallel channels.     

Soret and Dufour effect on double diffusion mixed convection from a vertical surface in a porous medium saturated with a non-Newtonian fluid

A non-similar boundary layer analysis is presented to study the flow, heat and mass transfer characteristics of non-Darcian mixed convection of a non-Newtonian fluid from a vertical isothermal plate embedded in a homogeneous porous medium with the effect of Soret and Dufour and in the presence of either surface injection or suction. The value of the mixed-convection parameter lies between 0 and 1. In addition, the power-law model is used for non-Newtonian fluids with exponent n < 1 for pseudoplastics n = 1 for Newtonian fluids and n > 1 for dilatant fluids. Furthermore, the coordinates and dependent variables are transformed to yield computationally efficient numerical solutions that are valid over the entire range of mixed convection, from the pure forced-convection limit to the pure free-convection limit, and the whole domain of non-Newtonian fluids, from pseudoplastics to dilatant fluids. The numerical solution of the problem is derived using a Runge–Kutta integration scheme with Newton–Raphson shooting technique. Distributions for velocity, temperature and concentration, as well as for the rate of wall heat and mass transfer, have been obtained and discussed for various physical parametric values.     

Preparation of α-Fe2O3 nanotubes via electrospinning and research on their catalytic properties

In this paper, smooth α-Fe₂O₃ nanotubes have been successfully synthesized by electrospinning of ferric nitrate–polyvinyl alcohol solution followed by calcination in air. The morphologies and structures of the samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The catalytic properties were studied by differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicated that the as-prepared α-Fe₂O₃ nanotubes showed a continuous morphology and an extremely high degree of crystallization. The average inner and outer diameters of the obtained α-Fe₂O₃ nanotubes were about 60 nm and 100 nm, respectively. The obtained α-Fe₂O₃ nanotubes were able to lower the temperature of the high-temperature thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate, while they had little effect on the crystallographic phase transformation and the low-temperature thermal decomposition.     

Enhanced hydrogen selectivity from catalytic decomposition of formic acid over FeZnIr nanocatalyst at room temperature

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Hydrogen is considered a promising energy carrier for the future, especially for clean energy generation via fuel cell technologies. Formic acid is one of the...     

Approximate solutions of singular two-point BVPs by modified homotopy analysis method

In this Letter, approximate solutions of singular two-point boundary value problems (BVPs) are obtained by the modified homotopy analysis methods (MHAM). MHAM provides a convenient way of controlling the convergence region and rate of the series solution. The numerical tests show the capability of MHAM for singular BVPs.     

Simple synthesis of Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoflakes using a low temperature sol–gel method suitable for photodegradation of dyes

In this work we describe and discuss the synthesis, and characterization of Co₃O₄ nanoflakes prepared by citric acid based sol–gel method using cobalt nitrate precursor. The average crystalline size of Co₃O₄ was estimated from the X-ray diffraction peaks of powders using Scherrer’s formula. The size of the particles deduced from TEM agrees with XRD based values. The FTIR confirms formation of Co₃O₄. The SEM micrographs show the nanoflake morphology. Here we report the lowest temperature sol–gel method of preparation of Co₃O₄ nanoflakes and its photocatalytic study for the degradation of dye pollutant methylorange.     

Radiation effects on the MHD flow near the stagnation point of a stretching sheet

The radiation effects using the Rosseland approximation on the flow of an incompressible viscous electrically conducting fluid over a stretching sheet near the stagnation point in the presence of uniform transverse magnetic field is studied. The governing equations transform to ordinary differential equation by using suitable similarity transformation and then by a perturbation technique the numerical results for temperature distribution were obtained and discussed graphically.     

Similarity solutions for mixed convection boundary layer flow over a permeable horizontal flat plate

The effects of suction and injection on steady laminar mixed convection boundary layer flow over a permeable horizontal flat plate in a viscous and incompressible fluid is investigated in this paper. The similarity solutions of the governing boundary layer equations are obtained for some values of the suction and injection parameter f₀, the constant exponent n of the wall temperature as well as the mixed convection parameter λ. The resulting system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations is solved numerically for both assisting and opposing flow regimes using a finite-difference scheme known as the Keller-box method. Numerical results for the reduced skin friction coefficient, the reduced local Nusselt number, and the velocity and temperature profiles are obtained for various values of the parameters considered. Dual solutions are found to exist for the opposing flow.